8 CISF jawans killed in Naxal attack

Dantewada police sources said about 400 armed Naxalites made off with a huge quantity of ammonium nitrate, a high-grade explosive, stocked in the depot for use in mining operations. The insurgents also took away two wireless sets, 14 self-loaded rifles, one 9 mm pistol and other ammunition, Rathor added.

After triggering several blasts, the Maoists opened fire on the jawans guarding the depot, killing eight. Before the strike, the Maoists had cut off the depot’s communication network by targeting the power supply line, which also hampered rescue work later on, the sources said. The local police reached the spot a couple of hours after the attack. The exact amount of the explosive materials looted from the depot will be known after investigation, they said.

On Monday, Naxalites killed nine jawans in Kottacheru area of the same district and injured an equal number of security personnel from the Naga Battalion. In another incident on the same day, Maoists raided Arra police station in Jashpur district and killed two policemen, injured eight others and stole their weapons.